Automatic railway-switch



3 sheets-Sheen 2.

(No` Model.)

r; N. KELs-.EY 'an wg' A. .STEVENSQN AUTOMATICRAIZLW'AYSWITGH. No. 377,941.

- Patented Feb. 14, 1888.`

WITNESS/58:

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N. PETERS. PhMD-Lnhognphnr. Wnshinginll. D. C.

(Nomad.) n sheets-sheet@ F. N. KLSBY 8v WQ A. STEVENSON. AUTOMATIC RAILWAY SWITCH.

No. 377,941. Patented Peb; 14, 1888.*A

vMmm/Ey N. PETERS. Mol-imam, Wuhlnltnn. DC.

NITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

-EEANK N. xELsEY AND WILLIAM A. srEvENsoN, on NEw HAVEN,

CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC RAlLwAY-swi'rcH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,941, dated February 14, 1888.` Application filed March 29, 1887. Serial No. 232,928. (No model.)

"'o @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it `known that we, FRANK N. KELsEY and WILLIAM A. S'rEvENsoN, citizens of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the 5 State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Railway- Switches, of which the following is a specifi- The object of our invention is to provide an Io lmproved automatic railway-switch adapted to automatically close and to restore and maintain the continuity of the main' line, except when it is held open by a switchman or by a switching train.

I 5 The invention consists in the novel mechanism for holding the switch open by the weight of the switching train', in the novelI means for positively locking the switch when open, and in the mechanism for restoring the switch after the switching train has passed or the switchhandle is released Yby the operator.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of our improved switch. Fig. 2 is a part sectional transverse elevation on the line a' x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detailed view of a section of the tread-plate and its operating mechanism. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the switch-stand. Fig. 8 shows a side elevation of the lock mechanism, and Fig. 9 shows a portion of the switch-rod.

Referring to the drawings, A denotes the continuous rail of lthe main line, and B is the broken rail of the same. 35 C is the main-line rail, which is continuous with the outer rail of the branch track, this switch being of that forni ordinarily known as a split switch,7 and preferred in automatic Switches.

D D are the switch-points connected by the tie-bars C', and hinged, respectively, to the end of the broken rail B and to the end of the inside vbranch track, E. When they switchpoint, which is a continuation ofthe broken main-line rail,lies against the continuous main and branch rail, as best shown in Fig. 1, the switch is closed and the main line is 4thenconvtinuous. When the opposite switch -point, which is a continuation of the inside branch 5o rail, E, is thrown against the continuous mainline rail, the switch is open and the main line is broken. This is an ordinary and wellknown form of switch and needsno further description.

F designates a switchstand,in which is jour- 5 5 naled'a switch-shaft,f, formed with an ordinary switch-crank, f2, at its lower end. The crank extends through a rectangular slotted cam-block, t', which is tted in a corresponding head, z", ina switch-rod, i2. The switch- 6o rod is hinged to a short rod, 3, which is'fastened to the tie-rod c at the point of the switch.

The crank f 2` is adapted to turn throughabout a quarter of 4a revolution, and the cam-slot g is so shaped that the switch-rod i2 is thrown 65 over by a portion of the entire movement of the crank, and the balance of the caxnslot is extended concentric with the axis of the switchshaft, so that the crank continues to move after the switch is thrown open.

The switch-rod 2 is provided with a projection or shoulder, h, (see Figs. 8 and 9,) and passes through a slotted Aframe, k, which is bolted to the tie near the rail. A similar block, k", is fitted in the ways of the frame k, 75 and is adapted to slide in back of theprojecl tion on the switch-rod when the switch is open and hold it securely locked in vthat position.

On the outer side othe continuousrnain and branch rail c is arranged a tread-plate, Z, which is of sufficient length to bridge the longest spaces between the trucks of the-train, so that the wheels of a switching train will bear uninterruptedly upon it. v The tread-plate is supported upon the ends of a series of levers, Z', fulcrumed upon suitable bearings, n, whichare secured to the ties. i

Upon the opposite end of -each lever a weight, n', is fastened, and the weights are sufficiently heavy to preponderate over the 9o` weights of the tread-plate and hold it elevated above the tread-rail.

Adjacent to the outer end of the levers is a rod, R, arranged lengthwise of the tracks. A series of suitable chains, r', are attached at one end to hooks r2 upon the rd and conveyed under a series of guiding-pulleys, p, and over another and similar set of pulleys, p', and attached at their opposite ends to the outer ends of the levers. The pulleys are mounted in Ioo suitable bearings, p3, which are bolted to the ties, and the rod'R vis laid and adapted'to slide upon the iianges of the pulleybearings.

Upon the end of the rod nearest to the switch-stand is secured a short coiled spring, 3, and the spring is shackled at the other end to a lever, s', which is l'ulcrumed at one cX- tremity to a bearing, s2, bolted upon a tie.

To the opposite end ol the lever is attached a chain, s, which passes around a suitable pulley, s, and is shackled to a rockarm,'t, upon the switch-shaft. The pulley s* is mounted'in a suitable bearing, S5, bolted to the tie upon which the switchstand is set. A chain, la", is attached at one end to the lever s and connected at its opposite end to the lock-block k. Another chain, k2 is attached at one end to the lock-block and passed over a roll, h5, mounted in the frame k, and the other end of the chain is attached to a weight, k6, which acts to draw the lock-bolt in over the switchrod i2, and the projection 7L on the rod is so placed that the lock-block will enter behind it when the switch is thrown open.

A spiral spring, u, is coiled around the switchsshaft, with one end bearing against a projection, f3, on the shaft, and the opposite end bearing upon the switch-stand. The coil is wound and arranged in the direction to close the switch when opened. The switch-handle a is pivoted to swing in a vertical plane in an arm, ai', which is secured to the switch-shaft j" above the stand F. A pawl, u, is pivoted in the arm u?, between the switch-handle and the shaft, and formed with a projection, e', which extends over the inner end of the handle. The top of the switch-stand is formed with a notch, c2, at the point immediately under the pawl when the switch is open,and the surface of the top of the stand is shaped eccentric to the switch-shaft, so that as the lever is turned the pawl rides upon the eccentricsurface and falls into the notch e2 when the handle is thrown clear around to its open position.

The pawl then holds the switch-shaft, and prevents it from turning so long as the lever is held in a horizontal position; but if the handle'is not held it will drop down into a vertical position, and its inner end will bear upon the projection a3 and raise the pawl out of the notch, when the switch-post will be free to tu rn by the action of the spring.

Constructed as above described and shown, the operation of our improved switch is as follows: As the switch-handle is thrown around from the` position shown in the flgures, the switch-shaft is turned, and the crank f2 operates the eam-block and switch-rod, thus forcing'the switch open. At the same time the rock-arm t draws upon the chain sa, and the lever s thus slides the rod R lengthwise and lifts the weighted ends of the series of levers Z by means of the chains 1", thereby depressing the tread-plate Z to the level of the trackrail. This motion of the lever also releases the lock-block 7c', which is then pulled in toward the switch-rod i2 by means of the weight k6.'- As hereinbefore explained, the 4crank fl travels for a short distance after the switch is thrown open and while the cam t' remains stationary; but the rockarm t meanwhile travels and operates the lever s', and the weight k therefore draws the lock-block in behind the projection h on the switch-rod, thus securely locking the switch open. The switch will then remain open as long as thelever u' is held horizontal with the pawl in the notch e2, orwhile the tread-plate is held depressed by the weight of the car-trucks. As soon, however, as the train passes the tre'ad-plate, the weights n operate and elevate the tread-plate and actuate the lever s, thus drawing the lock-bolt k and turning the switch-handle u by means of the chain s, whereby the switch'- point D is drawn against the rail G and the continuity of the main line restored. The spring u assists in closing the switch, and the spring is also prot vided for the purpose of closing the switch in case the treadplate,levers, or chains are broken from any cause.

The chain s3 can be disconnected and the switch work independently of the tread-plate, levers, weights, and sliding rod. The spring s must be considerably stronger than the spring u, and must yield only when the tread-plate4 for any reason will not depress. Then the spring will give and allow the switch to be thrown, and then as soon' as a train passes onto and depresses the tread-plate the spring will contract. The spring s will also meet any contraction or expansion of the sliding rod R. The opening of the switch raises the weights and permits the tread plate to lower, and the switch therefore will be held open until the train is actually on the tread-plate, after which it remains open until the train clears the plate. Therefore, to relieve the switch man from resisting the action of the weights and the spring during the interval before the train strikes the tread-plate, we provide the pivoted pawl e and the locking-notch e2 in the switchstand, so that as the switch is opened the pawl falls into the notch and holds the mechanism. It is then only necessary for the switchman to hold the switch-handle till the train is on the plate. After this, however, the handle may he released, and as its outer and heavier end drops down in a vertical position its inner end engages the projection ua on the pawl and draws the pawl from thelocking-notch, and the switch is then free to close as soon as the train leaves the plate. As the tread-plate is depressed by the switchman and not by the train, it is not subject to violent shocks by engagement with the forward trucks and. consequent splintering and wear, and the mechanism of the switch is not subject to derangement and breakage by violent blows and jars.

We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In automatic railway-switches, the combination, with the main line, switch, and siding or branch line, of the switch-stand, shaft,

IOO

and connecting-rod for moving the switch, the tread-plate and counterweighted levers supporting it, the sliding rod and connections attached to the weighted ends of the levers, the switch-crank and connections for operating the sliding rod and tread-plate, a locking-bolt adapted to engage the switch-rod to lock the switch open, and counter-weight for actuating the bolt as the switch is thrown open and the tread-plate is drawn down, and the connections for disengaging the bolt by the action of the tread-plate weights, whereby the bolt is drawn and the switch and main line are automatically restored as the train clears the treadplate, substantially as described.

2. In automatic railway-switches, the combination of the switch-stand F, provided with a notch, e2, in the edge of its upper face, the arm u2, secured to the switch-shaft located eccentrically with relation to the notched stand, the handle u', pivoted in the' end of the arm, the pawl e', pivoted to the arm interior to the handle and adapted to dropinto the notch as the switch is opened,y and provided with a projection, as, extending over the inner end of the switch-handle, whereby the pawl is disengaged from the locking-notch as the switchhandle assumes a vertical position, substanlially in the manner and for the purpose specied. v

3. The combination, with the main line, switch, and siding, of the switch-stand F, the shaft f', actuatingspring u, switch-crank f2, cam g, and connecting-rod i2, provided with the projection h, the tread-plate Z, the ful# crurns n, lever Z', supporting the tread-plate, counter-weights n', for raising the tread-plate and closing the switch, the sliding rod R, the hooks r2, the connecting-chains 1"', attached to the hooks and the weighted ends of the levers, the chain-pulleys pp and their bearingspa, l[he lever s', the spring s, connecting the sliding rod and the lever s', the switch-crank t, secured upon the switch-shaft, the chain s3, connecting the crank t and lever s', the pulley s4 and its support 85, the locking plate lc, through which the switch-rod passes, the locking-bolt k', guided in the plate and adapted to engage the projection on the rod to lock the switch open, the weight k6, and connectingchain 7a4, for locking the bolt, the pulley h5, guiding the chain, thel chain k2, connecting the lock-bolt to the lever s,'and a switch leveror `handle secured to the shaft for opening the saine, all combined and arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

4. In railway-switch mechanism, the combination, with the shaft, switch-cranky, and connecting-rod, ofthe cam-block fi, secured at the endfof the rod and engaged by the switchcrank, and provided with a cam-slot, g, so shaped thatwhen the switch is thrown open the slot is continued for a dista-nce in the path of the crank for the purpose of permitting the further motion of the crank t',switch shaft, and connections to raise the tread-plate leverweights and allow the tread-plate to lower,and also permit thelockingbolt r to engage the notch h and lock the switch open, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

5. In automatic railway-switches, the combination, with the main line, switch, and siding, of the switch-stand, shaft, and connecting-rod for moving the switch, the tread-plate and counterweighted levers and connections attached to the weighted ends of the levers, the switch-crank and connections for operatingA the sliding rod and tread-plate, and a spring or elastic `connection linterposed between the connections uniting the switch-crank and sliding rod, a spring coiled upon the switch-shaft and adapted'to throw the shaft to operate the switch, a locking-bolt adapted to engage the switch-rod to lock the` switch, the counterweight for locking the bolt, and the connections for unlocking the bolt by the action of the tread-plate weights, whereby the lock-bolt is drawn and the switch operated, substanf `tially in the manner described.

FRANK N. KELSEY.

WILLIAM A. STEVENSON. 

